More Cultural Differences: Medical stuff

When I got back to work after being gone for several weeks, I was really relieved how easy it was to step back in (even after having arrived in the country just 12 hours earlier). My work was very supportive and accomodating with the medical emergency I had at home, and I was just happy it was over. I was a little surprised that everyone on staff AND all my students knew exactly what had happened (well, a slightly incorrect version of the story) and was embarassed - and got a little shy - when the students from my favorite class ran up to see my mouth when they saw me. But again, it was still nice to see them and people are not as discreet about medical topics here as they are in America, so I considered it a cultural experience and was ready to move on.

Then I got this text message from a coworker on Monday (a holiday), right after coming back from Okayama:

"I will go to say to dentistry school doctor with me tomorrow ok? i will go for thanks when i talked about a tooth."

OK, I was confused. The message was from a friend on staff who had basically found a dentist in the area (presumably hers) that could do the procedure. So now my school wanted me to go to the doctor who gave my school a price quote (when I was deciding whether to do surgery here or at home)?? And a dentistry SCHOOL?? Nobody told me it was a school. The whole thing took me a little off guard.

I had not gotten a chance to answer yet when I got this:

"It near school. time without a class you and nozaki teacher. will go with three."

Which means we would be going with a translator during my only free period during the day. I guess I was comfortable in assisting the colleagues that had helped me with my emergency (and always help me with so much!), but was growing increasingly uncomfortable with how public my (somewhat traumatic) experience was becoming and did not understand why I needed to discuss it with a doctor I did not know, trust, or have any other connection to. Especially in person.

First thing on Monday morning, I went to Nozaki Sensei for a little clarification with the message. Nozaki Sensei explained to me that because the dentist had given his time to asnwer our questions about potentially doing the procedure in Japan (or maybe his secretary did), we would have to thank him, I assume to preserve the working relationship between the school and his office. I also immediately thought this could be a "saving face" thing since I did not use his services (so the blame fell on my shoulders and not my school).

She also explained the dentist was curious, so we would be going in to answer his questions about my procedure. I was candid and just told her that I was getting really uncomfortable, that I did not want to discuss my medical history with a doctor I did not know (especially since this situation is a bit sticky), and explained that, in the US, we are more private about medical issues. She understood this and explained it to the the other teacher.

In the end, we made a compromise. Nozaki Sensei did not accompany us to translate (so there wouldn't be an explanation), but I did go to the office with the coworker that texted me. It seems it was my school's dentist (not a dentistry school) - I think, at least - but we basically waited for the dentist for 15 minutes, I told him I was now OK and smiled (he wanted to see the tooth), and we bowed a lot. The place was basically one big room with multiple chairs (public), the dentist never took off his mask when he talked to him (slightly impersonal) and nobody spoke English, however. So while I now know a dentist to go to if I need one in a hurry here, I think I did the right thing by choosing to do everything at home.

I have come to understand a lot of things about Japan in the last year, but the approach to medical issues, or things concerning the body, is still somewhat grey to me. It seems that Japanese people are very open about nudity (like at hot springs or in the home...even nude pictures and porn everywhere), but I sometimes wonder if this ties into them just being more open about issues concerning the body in general. They're OK with showing the body, for example, but are far, far less comfortable with intimacy (even holding hands in public) than we are in America, so maybe it's just the physical aspect (?).

As a mostly homogenous culture, I have also wondered if this is because so many people have more similar genetic make-ups, thus feeling that their bodies are more similar anyways, but I have not confirmed this and am sure it ties into history more than it does the genetics of the people in Japan. I do know, however, that I have been uncomfortable in the past when people have told me very specific and detailed medical information about themselves and others that I honestly did not need or want to hear (ex: "she can"t make it to our formal tonight because she has really bad diahrea from her dinner last night and it is turning a funny color.")...and this is about people I barely know.

It's interesting how the smallest and strangest things can get you when you think you've got it down. In the end, I was fine with bowing and showing my school some respect for all of the support they give me, but let's just hope that's the end of THIS dental story for a long, long time!